Objective
• Over 25 years directorial experience in the maritime industry with focus on ship construction and shipyard operations, ship operations and ship design.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, superior listening, effective oral, presentation and written communication skills. Able to inspire and lead teams members.
• Strong strategic planning skills and vision to take the business to the next level.
• Experienced in leading educational and training programs.
• Experienced in managing large complex ships production, and ship operations projects.
Experience
Education Training and Development
• Experience in teaching MBA courses including, Project Management, Quality Management & Leadership and Organizational Behavior Change Management and Organizational culture.
• Experience in development of course syllabus, curriculum, student satisfaction surveys, case studies, power point presentations and exercises, teacher guides, final project and exams as well as various forms.
Human Capital, Strategic Planning
• Applied three decades of experience and knowledge in the maritime industry to provide leadership and strategic direction to a naval architecture firm.
• Responsible for achieving strategic goals through a systematic approach and the cultivation of a quality culture.
• Responsible for the development of human capital including succession plan, target education and personal growth, advanced internship program and a dynamic organizational structure.
• Develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely manner) strategic objectives.
• Created and led initiatives related to human capital improvement such as, Succession Plan, corporate climate survey, rewards system, organizational structure and job descriptions.
• Oversaw the improvement of Project Management and Quality assurance procedures.
• Oversaw the development of branding campaign, including upgrades to the website.
• Developed a series of in house training lectures aimed at improving corporate communication, project management and leadership traits.
• Oversaw development of sales and marketing strategic plan for the marine team.
• Lead a team of 20 professional naval architects, marine, mechanical and electrical engineers, technical designers, draftsmen and administration staff.
• Manage construction & conversion projects in foreign shipyards.
• Develop revitalization plans for foreign shipyards and ship boat operators, including the development of strategic, marketing and business plans for water-born transportation, aqua-culture, eco tourism cruise ship/dive ship projects.
• Develop feasibility studies for start-up niche market cruise-lines, including the preparation of business plans and market research and development of all financial projections data.
• Develop concept studies of security aspects related to port operations from a naval architecture perspective.
• Oversee the development of adequate shipyard infrastructure in Russia, Ukraine, China, Taiwan and Turkey for new construction of mega yachts.
• Develop, plan and manage conversion projects of passenger vessels and upgrades to meet latest SOLAS regulations.
• Develop technical specifications, financial analysis and project management budget, schedules and support services.
• Interface with all regulatory agencies (class: LR, ABS, BV, RINA, DNV, GL), USCG, USPH and flag administrations.
• Manage riding crew on cruise ships who were responsible for conducting guaranteed work on behalf of the European shipyards (Fincantieri, Meyer Werft and Chantier D’Atlantique) on ships operated by Carnival, RCCL, P&O, Celebrity, Premier, Cunard, NCL, and Dolphin cruise lines. Scope of work included systems modifications, such as ballast, galley and sewage.
• Develop technical and operational specifications for a fleet of multi-purpose fast attack/patrol boats.
• Develop conceptual and preliminary design of fast patrol crafts and amphibious vehicles.
• Supervising all new crafts’ sea trials, including the analysis and report preparation.
• Responsible for development of Supply Chain Management for the Israeli Navy in the area of procurement of services and products, focusing on new technologies and marine vehicles.
• Contracting with suppliers for repair and maintenance contracts; coordinating and supervising technical, legal and financial aspects of the ministry’s related activities as head of the bidding committee.
• Supervise new construction of container vessels.
• Responsible for leading team on routine & emergency repair as well as major conversion projects in foreign shipyards, including Mipo Shipyard Pusan- South Korea, China Shipbuilding, Kaoshung-Taiwan, Lisnave Portugal, Genoa-Italy, HDW Kiel-Germany and Van Der Giessen De Noord Rottredam-Holland.
Education
Capella University, Minneapolis,MN 2001-2003
MBA with specialization on Entrepreneurial Studies – Areas of interest: Shipyards and Maritime organization’s operations and culture, management with focus on leadership and innovation, creativity and change management. GPA 4.0.
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland 1984-1987
B.Eng.- First Class Hon.- Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. GPA 4.0.
Israeli Naval Academy, Acco Israel 1971-1975
This is a four-year high school program integrated with marine studies. Upon graduation, graduates normally join the Israeli Navy as officers or the Israeli Merchant Marine as officers in the various disciplines (deck, engine, Radio Electronics). GPA 4.0.
Military Service 1976-1979
National (Compulsory) Service, Israeli Navy
Certification
• Certified Quality Manager CQM - The American Society for Quality
• Third Officer Unlimited license – Israeli D.O.T
• Second Officer Unlimited license – Israeli D.O.T
• First Officer Unlimited license – Israeli D.O.T
• Marine Radiotelephone Operator – US D.O.T
Skils
• Have strong strategic planning skills and vision to take the business to the next level.
• Ability to be culturally sensitive and understand cultural differences is essential for this position.
Candidate must retain the ability to maintain composure at all times along with demonstrated adaptability and flexibility.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Superior listening, effective oral, presentation and written communication skills are a must.
• Ability to lead large teams is a plus.
• Knowledge of contracting, cost reduction initiatives, international business development background, maritime background.
• Self-starter with the ability to work extended periods without supervision.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Ability to manage large, complex projects and financial transactions.
• Ability to effectively develop, direct, implement and follow up on corporate strategic decisions/directions.
• Analytical and problem solving ability for complex problems.
• Effectively promote and implement programs.
• Ability to think inventively
• Anxious to make his/her place in the industry
• Persistent, tenacious, positive and pro-active personality
• Willing to develop team building skills
• Posses an intuitive approach to problems
• Enjoys making each day better than the day before
• Can maintain a positive attitude and be flexible under
changing work requirements
• Willingness to contribute ideas to the planning process versus waiting to be told to do so.
• Diverse Background - My background encompasses key elements that may be vital for most companies in the maritime industry: working experience with foreign and domestic shipyards, shipboard experience, engineering and technical competency, sound business vision and above all, interpersonal and leadership traits that are critical when working in today’s fast pace ever changing working environment. My technical background as a naval architect enables me to collaborate with the shipyard’s production team, sharing my knowledge and experience while finding solutions that get us to the finish line, meeting project goals and enjoy the journey.
Over the course of my professional career I have had the privilege of residing in many different countries, managing large and complex ship repair and conversion projects. This unique experience endows me with an insight into cultural differences and a better understanding of diversity; both key elements in attaining success when interacting with colleagues with a different background and level of expertise.
• Passion for education, personal development and quality culture – My strength is in mobilizing people through motivation and passion in a creative way. I understand the power of knowledge and its impact on the shipyard at all levels, internally (employees) as well as externally (customers and supply chain). I have developed in the past exciting curriculum that translates thought a series of lesson plans to an effective overall training program that can get results. I can link the shipyard’s strategic objectives to the training and development program through a metric of tangible indexes. By doing so, we will be able to link everyone in the shipyard to the end goals ensuring that everyone is onboard and no one has been left on the pier. I am able to work at the management level while simultaneously work with the production and support services personnel. I understand and operate comfortably within a shipyard’s operational constraints and feel comfortable facing time, budget and human capital challenges.
• Involvement with the Shipbuilding Industry – To keep current with the challenges our shipbuilding is facing nowadays, I am a member of the Crosscut panel at the NSRP (www.nsrp.org). The panel is dedicated to provide guidance resources and discus issues related to meet the needs of people and shipyards. I also write a monthly article in the Maritime Reporter addressing issues related to human capital and quality culture.